Sly Cooper and the Thievious Raccoonus (2002): The Review
Overview
Sly Cooper bursts with style, charm, and personality, standing out as one of the best-looking games of its time, thanks to its gorgeous art direction and fluid animation. The characters are instantly lovable, the story smartly written, and the presentation consistently impressive, giving the game a polish few platformers match. Still, beneath all that flair lies a short and easy adventure, with its thirty-five missions flying by quicker than expected and a few technical hiccups holding it back from true greatness. Even so, Sly Cooper remains a must-play for platforming fans, a brief but delightfully memorable experience that proves sometimes style really can steal the show.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
The Positives ✅
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus arrived at a time when the mascot platformer seemed like an endangered species, a fading relic from the ’90s. And yet, Sucker Punch breathed new life into the genre, crafting not just another furry hero with attitude, but one of the most effortlessly charming and stylish characters of the entire PlayStation 2 era. Sly himself is the perfect blend of cool and likable, a slick, silent professional who never loses that roguish grin. It’s easy to root for him. From his backstory as a master thief avenging his family’s legacy to the brilliant chemistry with his partners Bentley and Murray, this team oozes personality.
That charisma extends to the presentation, which feels like a Saturday morning cartoon filtered through a noir detective story. The cel-shaded art style is stunning, but what really sells it is the seamlessness, menus, load screens, cutscenes, and gameplay all flow together with an incredible sense of rhythm. Sly Cooper doesn’t just play smooth; it feels smooth. Each level is introduced with comic book-style flair, with clever parodies of spy tropes and even cheeky nods to Metal Gear Solid. The game constantly rewards you with slick animation, witty writing, and that warm, nostalgic “cartoon adventure” vibe that makes you smile without realizing it.
The level design is the definition of tight and varied. Across five distinct worlds, from murky Haitian swamps to neon-lit casinos and snowy Chinese mountaintops, every area offers something unique. Mini-games, chase sequences, stealth segments, and platforming challenges blend effortlessly. The best part? Sly’s movement is pure joy. His jumps, swings, and slides all feel intuitive, and the physics behind his cane mechanics are so well-tuned you’ll want to replay levels just to move around again. Add in the responsive controls, fun boss fights, and a treasure trove of collectibles, and Sly Cooper’s world feels alive, rewarding, and never overstays its welcome.
And then there’s the sound design, low-key perfection. The jazzy, sneaky soundtrack matches the tone of each location beautifully, ramping up in danger and fading out in safety. The voice acting seals the deal: Sly is perfectly cast, Bentley’s nasal nerdiness is somehow lovable, and Murray is a clumsy sweetheart whose energy lights up every scene. For all its polish and style, what really makes Sly Cooper special is its heart. This is a game that feels handcrafted, smart, funny, and full of soul.
The Negatives ⚠️
For all its charm and creativity, Sly Cooper’s biggest sin is its brevity. It’s an excellent platformer, but one that feels like it ends just as it’s hitting its stride. Most players can finish it in 10–12 hours, which leaves you wanting one more world, one more heist, one more late-game twist. The Time Challenges add replay value, sure, but it’s hard not to wish the main adventure packed just a little more bite.
The same goes for difficulty. Sly Cooper is rarely challenging, and for most of the journey, you’ll breeze through levels without breaking a sweat. Only the final world really tests your reflexes and precision, but by then, it’s over too soon. Some of the power-ups and special techniques you unlock, slow motion, hat mines, decoys, sound awesome on paper but end up being optional, underused, or outright unnecessary. It’s as if the game introduces all these cool mechanics but never gives you enough reason to rely on them.
Technically, it’s not flawless either. There’s occasional slowdown and camera wonkiness, especially in the larger hub areas or the hectic finale. Sometimes the camera gets stuck in walls or objects, and on rare occasions, Sly himself can get trapped and require a level restart. These aren’t deal-breakers, but they’re noticeable enough to break immersion. Considering how gorgeous and fluid the rest of the experience is, these moments feel like small but frustrating blemishes on an otherwise shiny gem.
The Experience 🎮
Playing Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus feels like rediscovering what made platformers magical in the first place. It’s a game that wears its inspirations proudly, from Mario’s precision to Crash Bandicoot’s structure, yet forges its own identity through its playful tone and slick sense of style. Every moment feels handcrafted for enjoyment, and even when it’s easy, you can’t help but smile. This isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about rekindling the simple joy of movement, rhythm, and exploration that defines the best platformers.
What makes the experience so memorable is how cohesive everything feels. The art, music, dialogue, and gameplay all work in harmony, creating a cartoon world that feels alive without ever talking down to its audience. It’s smartly designed, emotionally engaging, and genuinely funny. You don’t just play as Sly, you become him, zipping across rooftops, dodging spotlights, and leaving your calling card behind with style. It’s immersive in a way few platformers manage to be.
And when it’s over, you’re left with that rare, bittersweet feeling: satisfaction mixed with longing. You’ll want more, more worlds, more stories, more time with this charming raccoon and his goofy friends. Sly Cooper is proof that platformers don’t need reinvention, they just need heart. It’s stylish, short, and occasionally flawed, but it’s also one of the most effortlessly lovable games of its generation, the kind of adventure that reminds you why you fell in love with gaming in the first place.
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